Time: Bill Clinton Pushing For Hillary As VP

A graceful exit is never easy in a business as fraught with ego and ambition as presidential politics. Which is why in recent days, quiet calls have started going out to key supporters of Hillary Clinton who are showing signs of wanting to jump ship. Clinton's emissaries point out that she is no longer attacking Barack Obama, and they promise she won't start again. Allow her to ride out the last few primaries, they argue, and she won't do anything to make it difficult for her longtime allies to switch their allegiances when the time comes.

The latest round of calls was a tacit admission that while the battles aren't over, the war has been lost. It also raises the question, What will Clinton's terms of surrender turn out to be? Her husband, for one, seems to have a pretty clear idea what he thinks she should get as a consolation prize. In Bill Clinton's view, she has earned nothing short of an offer to be Obama's running mate, according to some who are close to the former President. Bill "is pushing real hard for this to happen," says a friend. Hillary is more opaque about what she might want, divulging little even to those who see and talk to her every day. "It's as plain as the nose on your face that this whole thing has shifted to a different mode," says a top Clinton strategist. "But I don't know what she wants. I don't know what she's thinking."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[butchie65]

Hillary says she is vetted, which she is not. If Hillary wants the VP spot, she would have to be vetted. That means all her records would have to be opened. She wouldn't be running the show, Obama would.They would have access to the library records and donors. They would have to name everyone that had dealings with them, including Ron Burkle They would even investigate rumors, they can't say no to questions. Hillary couldn't afford to have these kinds of answers come out. I don't know what Bill is thinking, but, don't think he would be willing to give the family secrets away. Now, he is lining Chelsea up for the Presidency, in 2016, is he desperate or what ?

[Bill3rdterm]

If he wants to vett her, he can do it when the process is over. She's not going to give him info that he can twist into hurting her.

The bottom line is Obama's only chance is putting her on the ticket. She does very well in the REAL swing states, not the fairy tale ones that the media is talking about now.

[Dustee]

Putting her on the ticket goes against everything he's been campaigning about. It would truely upset HIS supporters...then what.

[Philly4Obama]

Twist to hurt her? In case you haven't noticed, the race is over. He doesn't need to hurt her, which he hasn't done anyway from the start, even though you probably think to the contrary. She hurt herself with her lies and flip flopping.

I would support Obama if he chose her as his VP, but she is certainly not making it easy to even consider that possibility. I know you Clintonites accuse Obama of being arrogant often. Perhaps you should try taking a look at the profound arrogance and condescension the Clinton camp wreaks of.

[Dustee]

You're right, she hasn't been vetted yet . A lot of the younger people don't know a lot about her/Clintons and their past record. And, it hasn't really come up on the msm either. Obama doesn't bring it up because unlike Hillary, he hates mudslinging. What are they afraid of? Open up that library, let see all that so-called experience and all her past political history.

They just take her word that she's been 'vetted'.

[Philly4Obama]

Clearly many Clinton supporters care only about their ego. They don't care about the agenda Clinton and Obama are bringing to the table. They care only about winning and feeling good about themselves for doing so. They don't view the victory of Obama, and a potential victory in November as a victory for OUR AGENDA.

Can we all stand up and start singing American Idiot by Green Day... maybe if we remember what we have gone through with George Bush we might have an epiphany and feel the shame of our current fratricidal actions.

Many CLinton supporters are betraying Clinton's agenda. Its not enough that she betrays her agenda (everyone knew she was an egomaniac to start), but it is pathetic to see her supporters betray the agenda - supposedly the reasons they were supporting her in the first place. It seems evident many of her supporters didn't care about the agenda, just that she was a woman, and now have decided to jump ship and abandon the agenda out of anger, like a scorned husband or wife.

YOU PEOPLE WHO SAY YOU WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA.... You don't care about my children, or yours. You care about your stupid ego. You shame yourselves, the sacrifices of those who came before us, and deny the hopes of those who come after. You are unworthy!

[Bill3rdterm]

Egomaniac??? LOFL. YOu mean like someone who has never ever finished one elected term of office before attempting to run for the next highest office???? Like someone who was a year and a half into there first term as US senator and attempts to run for president??? Someone who rights two autobio's before the age of 45????


The rest of your post is just as worthless.

[Dustee]

What has Hillary accomplished with her term in US senate? She keeps saying that she has all this experience but know one can prove it, they keep the clinton libraty locked. Come on...I know she wasn't in Bosnia ducking snipper fire. Besides that...what good is the experience with out good judgement? If she had all this experience, why didn't other candidates like Richardson get as far as Obama or Clinton? He has more experience in the US senate then either Obama or Clinton.

[Philly4Obama]

Writing a history about his journey to understand his roots and place in life is about egomania? Running for office and winning is egomania?

Maybe its about actually having something worth bringing to the table. Maybe its about having something relevant to write about in the context of this nation's situation. The fact that he won is proof that a majority of voters actually thought so too.

You chose to not address YOUR BETRAYAL of both Clinton and the Democratic Agenda. Do you support Clinton because she is a woman or BECAUSE OF HER AGENDA? You didn't answer that question because YOU CAN'T!!!!

You know you are betraying the agenda Clinton is supposed to represent. You want to push your anger off on others while all along you can't even explain it with a straight face to yourself.

You shame yourself, this party, our agenda, our children, our ancestors who fought for a better America. You are nothing but a pawn in the hands of the powers that be that want the Democratic agenda to fail. That is the God honest truth and you know it.. That's why you avoid the issue!

[Philly4Obama]

Hillary CLinton has pretty much made it impossible for Obama to even consider her. She actually is on the path of making it even worse, and deliberately so.

I will support Obama whatever he chooses. I know he will make his choices in the best interest of his movement, and not based on ego. Perhaps that is one main reason why it is so hard to envision someone like Clinton in the VP spot.

[partyofone]

It must be very sad for Bill Clinton to realize how little influence he has with voters and, in reflection, how little he has gained by cashing on his good wll and reputation to try and get Mrs. Bill Clinton elected. Another tragic footnote tfor Bill's shallow legacy.

[AnnieinOR]

I found this article at The Field - it explains what has happened with Clinton's sudden change in attitude from the more subdued Clinton just before Kentucky. An interesting tidbit that may explain why Hillary and her supporters have gone off the deep end, including Taylor Marsh, Cynthia Ruccia and Geraldine Ferraro... it's all an orchestrated BURN THE PARTY TO THE GROUND in a last ditch effort to destroy Obama. If she can't have it, neither can he.

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1248

they have decided to go nuclear and in the event they don't get what they want, they want him unelectable.

[dajay]

Oh, right, we went off the deep end.

You guys are off the deep end everyday on this blog, and your guy is supposedly the winner.

Explain that to me.

[AnnieinOR]

read the article - and I don't have explain anything. He is the winner, more delegates, 61 delegates away from the end.... sorry. I am not off the deep end, far from it, I have no reason to be - Obama is supported by Hagel, a republican, by many of his fellow senators and congressmen/women... it's a done deal -

[dajay]

Another pro-Obama article bashing the Clintons. Like we are supposed to take this as credible.

Either way, I am sure Hillary will not be Obama's VP and I am sure she has not asked him directly yet either.

How come no other news organization is reporting this story. Only "the Field" and The HP post blog.

That should tell you something.

[partyofone]

You do not need to be pro-Obama to despise the dishonest, self-serving Clintons. Their behavior in this campaign has been shameful.

Fortunately, ithe Clintons have revealed to many Democrats and former that they have been consistently mean, dishonest and shaameless throughout their lives and careers.

[dajay]

Hillary,

Don't take a spot as Obama's VP. Although I am sure you won't be asked.

That would be degrading and would only benefit him. Go back to the Senate. He won't win in November anyway.

[AnnieinOR]

don't worry, rumor has it that he already has told her no, which explains why she went from subdued prior to Kentucky and then back to the same psycho she has been since Super Tuesday.. so don't worry... your wish is fufilled.

[dajay]

Good news. Just what I want to hear. Now I know he really lose in November.

[partyofone]

Yep, Hillary has been Glen Close in the bathtub in Ftal Attraction. Watch out Obama, this is one mean, bitter, ruthless woman. She isn't done with you yet.

[partyofone]

Yes Hillary, go back to your do nothing job in the do nothing Senate, where you fail to serve the ctiizens of New York every day, while you serve corporate special interests and the Bush agenda.

[Philly4Obama]

Clearly you care only about your ego. You don't care about the agenda Clinton and Obama are bringing to the table. You care only about winning and feeling good about yourself.

Can we all stand up and start singing American Idiot from Greenday... maybe if we remember what we have gone through with George Bush we might have an epiphany and feel the shame of our current fratricidal actions. IN other words DAJAY, right about now you are making me sick with your betrayal of Clinton's agenda. Its not enough that she betrays her agenda (everyone knew she was an egomaniac to start), but it is pathetic to see her supporters betray the reasons they supposedly were supporting her in the first place. It seems evident her supporters didn't care about the agenda, just that she was a woman.

[greenpaz]

Let's be very careful about advocating for Hillary as the VP. It wouldn't surprise me if, in their darkest hour, Bill and Hill discussed the possibility of Obama being assassinated and Hillary taking over as President. Now, I'm not suggesting that the Clintons would engineer an assassination plot against Obama. What I'm saying is that the possibility has crossed their minds and that they would welcome any opportunity to get back to the White House. Anyone doubt this?

[dajay]

greenpaz: How despicable. Go seek some help, you wacko.

[PrincessAnnie]

I fear for his life, whether she gets the VP nod or not. Sorry guys, but it would be literally be suicidal for him to pick her as his VP (remember Kennedy and Johnson). Greenpaz, I'm afraid you are being mighty generous to suggest that the Clintons would NOT involve themselves in an assassination plot; both, and particularly Bill, are acting like their lives literally depend on her becoming President. I suspect that Bill started making business deals with some very shady people when they thought she was a shoo-in for the Presidency. As Obama started doing well, they started getting desperate. For years, I thought it was ludicrous for people to suggest that Vince Foster's death was NOT a suicide...until I read up on it.

[111]

Hey Bill -

NO!

[HumeSkeptic]

The main criterion for picking a VP candidate is whether he/she can help Obama win. I don't know if Hillary fits the bill. If she does, I have no problem her being on the ticket.

As long as Obama becomes President, I don't care who the VP is. What does a VP do? It's determined by what the President would let the VP do.

[partyofone]

The main criteria for picking a VP SHOULD be "is the person qualified to be president". Mrs. Bill Clinton is not if you want to see positive CHANGE in politics, Washington, the nation and the world.

Once you have identified potential VP candidates who are qualified to lead change, then you can weigh relative political advantage for winning the election. Thinking about a strong leader who complements Obama --- Webb seems to be a great prospect.

[TrueIndy08]

hahahaha.... I'm laughing at this joke already and it hasn't even happened yet!!!

Can you imagine the GOP attack ads this fall?
"even Obama's running mate favors John McCain over Obama..."

-play the tape... "I'm ready to be CIC, Sen McCain is ready to CIC,... Obama has a speech from 2002"

That would be the funniest and most harmful ad to Sen. Obama... his own teammate isn't for him!!!

Kepp her as far away from the WH as possible... and we do not need a female! I am a female and I don't think that does anything for us.... we need JIM WEBB....

if Bill thinks Hillary would have made a great VP, he had 2 chances to make her his....

[luvthelaw]

I'm totally against having Hillary on the ticket because you can't say Obama is less qualified than McCain and then be on his ticket. Was she lying then or is she lying now?

But for fun, let's imagine the protocol mess this would cause. The VP's spouse is really only window-dressing but if it's Bill, former president, what would the protocol be? Would he get the same or more in-depth briefings as the VP? If he disagreed with the President, how would that look? At State dinners, is he treated differently? And will his old friends, foreign and domestic, try to run around Obama by going to Bill? How will he explain his donor list when he has to reveal that during the vetting process? Could get tricky.

[Jazzcomedian]

The bottom line is that both Obama and Clinton want to pull this country out of this abyss. That I don't doubt. No one entered the Senate more hated by Republicans and I imagine many Democrats than HillaryClinton, and she showed she could work with them to get things done--to everyone's surprise. Obama is a pragmatist. Hillary is a pragmatist. Even a liberal icon like Ted Kennedy is celebrated for his pragmatism. Pragmatists get things done. With Dem pragmatists in the White House, a Dem Congress and the Republicans in the minority, a lot of good stuff is going to happen for this country.

[TrueIndy08]

Hillary has spent so much time in the DC establishment.. please tell me when she has worked with others to get things done???

I;m not falling for that one... I loathe the woman... always have, always will... she is not deserving of being on an Obama ticket...

[dajay]

But Obama IS less qualified than Hillary. So how can she be his VP?

[partyofone]

I agree. Obama is certainly less qualified than Hillary or McCain

to continue the Bush policies,
to protect Washigton establishment coproraate-profiteering speical innterests,
to selll influence to the hightest bidders
tol spin, lie and distort to keep the nation divided and DC in grid-lock

But, we want CHANGE, and Obama is enmorously more qualified
by life and career experience outiside of DC,
by lack of ties to national lobbyists,
by integregrity
by vision
by capacity to inspire
by commtiment to building consensusnot poloarization

Qualtifications of the candidates must be weighed on the end result desired.

[1PALady]

Hillary brings absolutely nothing to the ticket, except for women over 50. Some people are so angry at her that they may not vote for the ticket if she is on it, especially Independents. Barack has the young people, African Americans are solid, a slew of new people and most of all he has a helluva lot of White people, blue collar, white collar, green collar and every other collar. I say let's take our chances without her, she would be a drag on the ticket.

[partyofone]

Excellent point. Do you really want all the Clinton melodrama, baggage and divisiveness to distract the November election and the entire Obama presidency, just to appease angry, bitter, aging women? They will remain angry and bitter with Hillary or without her.

[DMW1]

There is hope!
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1248

[globalcitizenlinda]

Obama would be out of his mind to choose HRC - the sole goal of the Clintons would be to undermine an Obama presidency. Besides, who wants to bring all that Clinton garbage to the White House again?

Obama needs to turn the page and move the Democratic party into the future since HRC has proved that as a subscriber to the Southern Strategy, she is bent on taking the nation backward.

Choosing HRC would also leave the Dems with no plausible running mate after President Obama's second term

[dajay]

Make some sense please. Hillary as a VP would not mean that Bill would be running around the White HOuse and butting into an Obama presidency.

How dumb is that?

[partyofone]

Bill would be "running around" on Hillary, and running around the World, distracting and undermining the Obama presidency.

Just as Bill's ego has damaged Hillary's campaign, his ego will work to undermine Obama. Bill Clinton's legacy will be ecclipsed the moment Obama is elected, and Bill is very upset by that prospect.

The sad trught is that Bill Clinton will be remembered in history as the president who had an affair with an intern, lied under oath, got Impeached, sold influence to become a mega millionaire, tired to bully the nation into electing his wife president and tried his best to prevent Barack Obama from becoming president.

[JohnTalbutt]

McCain could cut his advertising budget and just run clips of Bill and Hillary telling voters that McCain was more fit to be President.

Beyond that Obama/Webb, Obama/Sibelius or Obama/Richardson make more sense in terms of geography, demographic and poliitcal message.

[DMW1]

I saw an interesting commentary on why he would not pick Sibelius. Two female journalists suggested that it would only further anger Clinton supporters if he chose a woman, but not She Who Must Not Be Named.

[dajay]

I don't care who Obama picks as a VP, he still isn't getting my vote.

I will be staying home on Election Day this year.